Connector clip removal tool

ABSTRACT

A contact clip extraction tool for use in connection with a contact clip that is releasably lockable in a bore within an electrical connector body. The tool comprises a capture rod having a clip retainer portion for insertion in said connector body bore, the clip retainer portion being slidable into the interior of said clip. The clip retainer portion is expandable when the clip retainer portion is inserted a predetermined distance into the clip. The clip retainer portion can engage the clip in a manner such that withdrawal of said clip retainer portion from the body also results in withdrawal of said clip therefrom. Further, a spring may be secured to the tool for retracting said clip retainer portion onto the clip when the clip retainer portion has been inserted the predetermined distance into the clip. Also a protective sleeve surrounding the rod and slidable with respect to the rod, the sleeve protects the connector body bore during insertion and extraction of the tool.

United States Patent Barr [ 1 June 27, 1972 CONNECTOR CLIP REMOVAL TOOL [72] Inventor: John E. Barr, Van Nuys, Calif.

[73] Assignee: international Telephone and Telegraph Corporation, New York, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 85,364

Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney-C. Cornell Remsen, Jr., Walter J. Baum, Paul W. Hemminger, Charles L. Johnson and Thomas E. Kristofferson ABSTRACT A contact clip extraction tool for use in connection with a contact clip that is releasably lockable in a bore within an electrical connector body. The tool comprises a capture rod having a clip retainer portion for insertion in said connector body bore, the clip retainer portion being slidable into the interior of said clip. The clip retainer portion is expandable when the clip retainer portion is inserted a predetermined distance into the clip. The clip retainer portion can engage the clip in a manner such that withdrawal of said clip retainer portion from the body also results in withdrawal of said clip therefrom. Further, a spring may be secured to the tool for retracting said clip retainer portion onto the clip when the clip retainer portion has been inserted the predetermined distance into the clip. Also a protective sleeve surrounding the rod and slidable with respect to the rod, the sleeve protects the con nector body bore during insertion and extraction of the tool.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUM 2 7 m2 SHEET 10$ 3 INVENTOR. JOHN 5. 5mm. BY J Mg WZTTORNEV CONNECTOR CLIP REMOVAL TOOL The invention relates in general to connector clip removal tools and, more particularly, to a removal tool for removing a clip from an electrical connector assembly wherein the connector assembly is protected from damage during the insertion of the tool and removal of the clip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electrical connector clips for allowing releasable contacts to be replaced in an electrical connector assembly have become more popular in the electrical connector field. The clips allow damaged contacts to be readily removed and replaced without disconnecting the entire connector assembly. However, continued insertion and removal of the contact can result in damage to the clip itself. Moreover, during the assembly of a connector, certain of the clips may be damaged.

I-Ieretofore, clip removal tools have been utilized for front insertable clips. However, as the more popular rear insertable cli s have come into use, tools have been developed which allow the clips to be removed from the rear. However, most of these tools normally operate by pushing the clip from the front of the connector assembly out through the rear of the assembly. This procedure can cause damage to the rear grommet of the connector assembly with the resultant necessity for complete replacement of the connector.

In order to overcome the attendant disadvantages of prior art clip removal tools, the present invention utilizes a rear insertable clip removal tool which removed the clip from the connector assembly from the rear end thereof. The clip, once engaged by the tool, is completely shrouded by the tool so as to prevent damage to the rear grommet.

The advantages of this invention, both as to its construction and mode of operation will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I depicts a perspective view of a clip removal tool in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a clip removal tool of FIG. I in an exploded perspective view;

FIG. 3 shows the clip removal tool and a connector assembly containing a typical removable clip prior to insertion of the tool into the connector assembly;

FIG. 4 depicts the clip removal tool inserted into the connector assembly with the front end of the tool abutting the insulator containing the clip;

FIG. 5 illustrates the clip removal tool fully inserted into the connector assembly;

FIG. 6 depicts the clip removal tool initially engaging the clip prior to removal of the clip;

FIG. 7 illustrates the clip removal tool fully engaging the clip prior to removal of the clip from the connector assembly; and

FIG. 8 shows the clip removal tool partially withdrawing the clip from the connector assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. I a preferred embodiment of the clip removal tool I2. The tool 12 shown in an exploded view of FIG. 2 comprises a rear nut 14 having an enlarged diameter rear portion I6 whose outer surface may be knurled for facilitating gripping of the nut in order to allow rotation thereof. The front portion of the nut 14 contains a reduced diameter cylindrical section 18 having an annular groove 22 on the outer surface thereof approximately in the middle of the section 18. The junction of the reduced diameter front portion 18 and the enlarged diameter rear portion I6 is defined by a forward facing shoulder 24. Further, an axial extending opening is formed in the center of the nut 14 and is threaded as at 26 along its entire length.

A guide sleeve 32 is formed with an enlarged rear cylindrical secton 34 whose outer diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the portion 16. As shown in greater detail in FIG. 3, the cylindrical section 34 has a rear bore portion 36; the front end of the bore terminating at a rearward facing shoulder 38. The bore 36 has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the section 18 and contains an annular groove 42 in the surface. Further, an axial opening 44 extends forwardly along the length of the guide sleeve 32 and terminates at its rear end at the rearward facing shoulder 38. A metal retaining ring 45 is insertable in the grooves 22 and 42 and is used to secure the guide sleeve 32 to the nut 14 and yet allow relative rotation between the two members.

The front end of the guide sleeve is formed of an elongated cylindrical guide member 46 whose inner surface is defined by the opening 44 and contains an outer surface 48. Near the front end of the guide member 46 the outer surface tends to taper inwardly as at 52 to a slightly decreasing diameter until it abruptly terminates at a rearwardly facing shoulder 54, the outer edge of the shoulder 54 again extending for a short distance 56 forwardly and having an outer diameter equal to the diameter of the surface 48. Further, the front end of the member 46 contains a V-shaped taper 58 between the opening 44 and the surface 56.

Further, the guide member 46 has a forward facing shoulder 72 formed on its outer surface which defines the rear end of a notch 74.

A spring retaining section is formed on the rear end of the member 46 and is integral with the guide sleeve 32 and contains an enlarged diameter rear portion 64 and a reduced diameter forwardly extending portion 66, the junction of the two portions defining a forwardly facing shoulder 68.

A cylindrical protective sleeve 82 is adapted to be mounted on the member 46 and has an inner diameter approximately equal to the outer diameter at surface 48 of the member 46 and whose front edge 84 is normally positioned slightly forward of the rearward facing shoulder 54 and whose rear end 86 is positioned somewhat forwardly of the portion 66. The protective sleeve contains a pair of inwardly bendable tangs 92, 94 which are displaced along the axis of the sleeve with respect to each other. The front tang 92 has its front surface bendable inwardly whereas the rear tang 94 has its rear surface bendable inwardly.

A shoulder member 102 is mounted on the central outer surface of the sleeve 82 and is formed of an enlarged outer diameter front portion 104 and a reduced outer diameter rear portion I06, the junctions of the two portions defining a rearward facing shoulder 108. The outer diameters of the portions I04, 106 are approximately equal to the outer diameter of portions 64, 66, respectively. A coiled spring member 122 is positioned between the shoulders 68 and 108 and is made such that each end of the spring is retained over the reduced diameter portions 66, 106, respectively. After assembly, the ends of the spring are permanently affixed to the shoulders 68 and 108.

A capture rod 122 is formed with a threaded rear portion I24 which is threadably inserted into the nut 14 and mates with the threaded portion 26. Forward of the threaded portion 124 is a cylindrical portion I26. A clip retainer section 128 is an extension of the portion I26 and contains a pair of slots I32, I34 which are displaced with respect to each other and thereby divided the section 128 into four equal quadrants, although other divisions are possible, of course. The rear end of the section I28 is normally made integral with the portion 126 and extends forwardly till an outwardly flared outer surface 136 transitions to an intermediate portion I37 and then abruptly to a portion 138. The junction of the intermediate portion 137 and portion I38 is defined by a forward facing shoulder 142.

The front end of the clip retainer section is formed in the shape of an arrowhead with the front walls gradually tapered as at 144 from the slots 132, 134 to an enlarged cylindrical section having an outer surface I46. A forwardly tapering rearward facing shoulder 148 extends from the rear edge of the surface 146 inwardly to the front end of the portion 138. Because of the slots 132, 134, the front end of the capture rod 122 can be compressed as shown in FIG. 7 and 8 so that the tapered surfaces 144 meet to define almost a pointed edge.

Referring once again to FIG. 3, a typical connector con struction is depicted in partial sectional view with a contact retaining clip 162 mounted therein. The connector comprises a front grommet 164 and a rear grommet 166 having an insulator 168 mounted between them with the retaining clip 162 mounted in the insulator. As is conventional, the grommets are formed of an elastomeric material. The rear grommet 166 contains a passageway 170 which is aligned with openings in the insulator 168 and grommet 164. The passageway in the rear grommet is decreased in size by conventional ripple barriers 172, 174 which form a moisture barrier with the contacts and attached wires inserted into the passageway. A passageway 176 in the insulator forms a continuation of the passageway 170. A reduced diameter bore section 178 in the insulator passageway defines a rearward facing shoulder 182 and a forward facing shoulder 184, respectively, at the junc tion of the reduced diameter section 178 of the passageway 176.

The clip 162 is generally cylindrical in shape and is axially slotted. The slot 192 is open at its front end, thus allowing the clip to be compressed inwardly at its front end, as will be explained hereinafter.

The outer diameter of the clip 162 is approximately equal to the inner diameter of the reduced diameter section 178. The rear end of the clip contains an outwardly reverse bent lip 193 whose edge 194 is forward facing and rests against the rearward facing shoulder 182 thus preventing forward movement of the clip when operationally mounted in the insulator.

The clip further contains a plurality of rearwardly facing outwardly extending tangs 196 whose edge 198 abuts the forward facing shoulder 184 and prevents rearward movement of the clip. A plurality of forward facing inwardly extending tangs 202 positioned forwardly of the tangs 196 are utilized in combination with a shoulder of a contact mounted in the passageway to prevent rearward movement of the contact. Finally, the front end of the clip terminates in an outwardly flared portion 204 having a front edge surface 206.

The tool is utilized to remove the clip 162 from the insulator 168 by, first positioning the protective sleeve 82 so that the rear surface of the tang 94 abuts the shoulder 72 of the notch 74. Then the capture rod 122 is positioned by rotation of the nut 14 until the rear facing shoulder 148 abuts the front edge 84 of the sleeve 82. This positioning of the sleeve 82 and the clip retainer section 128 of rod 122 provides a relatively smooth surface as shown in FIG. 3 for penetrating the grommet 166 without damaging the seal areas 172 and 174.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the tool is inserted from the rear of the connector assembly until the tapered front walls 144 ofthe capture rod 122 abuts the surface of insulator 168. The guide sleeve 32 is then rotated approximately 90 in either direction so as to release the tab 94 from the notch 72 on the guide member 46 and allow the member 46 and capture rod 122 to move forward. The clip retainer portion 128 collapses due to the slots 132 and 134 being formed therein and the section 138 of the rod penetrates through the center of the clip. Once the rearward facing shoulder 148 clears the outwardly flared portion 204 of the clip, as shown in FIG. 5, the clip retainer section springs outwardly to the edge of the front bore formed in the insulator 168. The forward motion of the rod 122 is limited by the shoulder 142 on the capture rod which bears on the reverse bent lip 193 of the clip.

In the position shown in FIG. 5, the spring 112 is in a position of maximum compression and the rod 122 will tend to draw back as shown in FIG. 6. As the rod draws back, the shoulder 148 tends to grasp the flared portion 204 of the clip. It should be noted that sufficient grasping of the portion 204 will normally occur even though a substantial portion of the portion 204 has broken off or has been damaged.

Rotation of the nut 14 relative to the guide sleeve 32 then causes the capture rod 122 to be drawn into the member 46. As this action occurs, as depicted in FIG. 7, the movement of the rod 122 with respect to the tubular member 46 causes the clip retainer section 128 to compress inwardly, as during insertion due to the movement of the front inner surface of guide member 46 with respect to the flared outer surface 136. As the front end of the secton 128 collapses inwardly the outwardly flared position 204 of the clip is compressed inwardly by the rearward facing shoulder 148 of the clip retainer section 128. As the front end of the clip is compressed inwardly, the rearward facing tangs 196 are moved inwardly so that the tang edge 198 no longer abuts the forward facing shoulder 184. The clip is then moved rearwardly by the movement of the rod 122 until the reverse bent lip 193 abuts the V-shaped taper 58 on the tubular member 46. At this point, the clip is securely held between the front end of the member 46 at taper 58 and the shoulder 148 and rearward motion between the rod 122 and die tubular member 46 terminates.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, at this point the outer diameter of the tang 196 is less than the inner diameter of the section 178 allowing the clip 162 and the clip retainer 128 to pass through the section 178 freely. As the clip 162 and the rod 122 move to the rear, the grommet 166 is protected from damage by the sleeve 82. When the clip 162 and the clip retainer section 128 are completely inside of the sleeve 82 as shown in FIG. 8, the tabs 92 of the sleeve engage the rearward facing shoulder 54. This engagement allows the sleeve 82 and the capture rod 122, the clip 162 and the member 46 to be removed from the connector without exposing the sealed portions 172 and 174 of the grommet to sharp, potentially damaging edges of either the clip or the tool.

The damaged clip 162 may be removed from the tool by rotating the nut 14 causing the capture rod to move forwardly out of the sleeve 82 until the clip is completely exposed. The clip may then be removed and the tool prepared again for usage.

The outer diameter of the portion 138 should be slightly less than the inner diameter defined by the edge of the tangs 202 so as to prevent the front end of the clip from expanding, and thus preventing the shoulder 148 from compressing the front end of the clip.

Moreover, it should be understood that the front grommet 164 is not required and could be eliminated from the connector housing.

What is claimed is:

1. A contact clip extraction tool for use in connection with a contact clip that is releasably lockable in a bore within an electrical connector body, said tool comprising:

a capture rod having a clip retainer portion for an insertion in said connector body bore, said clip retainer portion being slidable into the interior of said clip, said clip retainer portion being expandable when said clip retainer portion is inserted a predetermined distance into said clip, said clip retainer portion having means thereon to engage said clip in a manner such that withdrawal of said clip retainer portion from said body also results in withdrawal of said clip therefrom.

2. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising spring means secured to said tool for retracting said clip retainer portion onto said clip when said clip retainer portion has been inserted said predetermined distance into said clip.

3. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein said clip retainer portion comprises a rearward facing tapered shoulder for engaging said clip upon said retraction.

4. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for collapsing said clip retainer portion upon engagement of said portion with said clip, said collapsing means releasing said clip from said insulator body upon collapsing of said clip retainer portion.

5. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a protective sleeve surrounding said rod and slidable with respect to said rod said sleeve protecting the connector body bore during insertion and extraction of said tool.

6. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 5 tion of said tool into said insulator body.

7. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 4 wherein said clip is positioned between a rearward facing tapered shoulder on said clip retainer portion and said means wherein said protective sleeve contains tang locking rneansfor 5 for collapsin! said p Portion said p is interlocking said protective sleeve and said means for collapsing the clip retainer portion during insertion and extracremoved from said connector body.

i l i i t 

1. A contact clip extraction tool for use in connection with a contact clip that is releasably lockable in a bore within an electrical connector body, said tool comprising: a capture rod having a clip retainer portion for an insertion in said connector body bore, said clip retainer portion being slidable into the interior of said clip, said clip retainer portion being expandable when said clip retainer portion is inserted a predetermined distance into said clip, said clip retainer portion having means thereon to engage said clip in a manner such that withdrawal of said clip retainer portion from said body also results in withdrawal of said clip therefrom.
 2. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising spring means secured to said tool for retracting said clip retainer portion onto said clip when said clip retainer portion has been inserted said predetermined distance into said clip.
 3. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein said clip retainer portion comprises a rearward facing tapered shoulder for engaging said clip upon said retraction.
 4. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising means for collapsing said clip retainer portion upon engagement of said portion with said clip, said collapsing means releasing said clip from said insulator body upon collapsing of said clip retainer portion.
 5. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a protective sleeve surrounding said rod and slidable with respect to said rod said sleeve protecting the connector body bore during insertion and extraction of said tool.
 6. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 5 wherein said protective sleeve contains tang locking means for interlocking said protective sleeve and said means for collapsing the clip retainer portion during insertion and extraction of said tool into said insulator body.
 7. A contact clip extraction tool in accordance with claim 4 wherein said clip is positioned between a rearward facing tapered shoulder on said clip retainer portion and said means for collapsing said clip retainer portion when said clip is removed from said connector body. 